Samurai Japanese Armor at LACMA

On Tuesday, October 21st, I roamed through the newly opened exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, "Samauri:  Japenese Armor from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection."
The exhibit beautifully displays the armor used by Samurai.  The exhibit information states that for nearly seven hundred years, beginning in 1185, Japan was governed by a military government, led by the shogun, ruling in the name of the emperor.  Samurai warriors were loyal to individual daimyo - provincial lords with large hereditary land holdings.  After years of clashes between these rival clans, in 1600 the Tokugawa family won a decisive battle and members of the family established a new shogunate and ruled over Japan during a period of peace lasting 250 years. In 1868, forces supporting the imperial system and the emperor gained control of the government and displaced the shogunate and the samurai class was officially dissolved.

Here are my photos of some of the exhibit:

The Samurai became expects in warfare and served their daimyo who ruled the Japanese provinces.  The Samuai began as servants and became skilled, educated and refined warriors.  Many nobility were also Samurai, many were among Japan's intellectual elite.

Samurai armor consists of a helmet, mask, and chest armor combined with shoulder guards, sleeves, a skirt, thigh protection and shin guards.  The armor was very light when compared to European or Persian armor.  It was made of small, perforated plates that were often lacquered and held together with colored lacing and silk cord.  Many were as beautiful as they were functional.

Horse Mask (bamen), Japan, late 16th century, wood, leather, gold and hemp

"Muneyuki III" Japan, active late 14th century, Hemispherical Ridged Helmet, 1380
Iron, gold, bronze, leather and lacing.

"Bamen Sadao" (helmet), Ridged Helmet and Half Mask, helmet," 14th-16th century.
Iron, copper, shakudo, gold, lacing, wood, leather, and horsehair.

Jacket (hitatare) and Pants, (hakama), Japan, 19th century, silk.
These were traditionally worn under a suit of armor.

16th an 17th century armor

Armor On Display:  On the eleventh day of the last month of the year the daimyo who ruled the province would  have all the armor put on display in order to show off the beauty and demonstrate his power.

19th Century Armor

Elaborately Shaped Helmet, Japan, 17th-18th century

Warrior Dolls, Japan, 19th century

Steep-Sided Helmet, Japan, late 16th-early 17th century

17th century Armor

Armor of the Tengu Type, 1854

The Mori Clan armor

Armor of the Okegawado Type, Japan, late 16th century

Horse Masks, Japan 16th century

Yumi and Archery Equipment.  Arrow Box and Arrows, Japan, 19th century and Quiver, Japan, 17th-18th century